Outgoing Liberian President, Johnson Ellen-Sirleaf
Meddling Allegation Baseless, Says Sirleaf
Outgoing President of Liberia, Johnson Ellen-Sirleaf, has denied allegations that she is meddling with the presidential electoral process.
The country has scheduled to hold runoff election for the Unity Party’s candidate and Vice President Joseph Boakai and former international footballer George Weah.
Sirleaf was accused by her own party that she had secret meetings with electoral officials. But Sirleaf’s spokesman on Monday said the meddling report is the figment of the imagination of its authors.
“The office of the president wishes to state unequivocally that these allegations are completely baseless and an unfortunate attempt by agents provocateurs to undermine Liberia’s democratic process,” Johnson Sirleaf’s spokesman, Jerolinmek Piah, told reporters.
He said the president’s meetings with election officials were “consistent with her constitutional role to ensure that the process was supported.”
“These allegations fall in the category of hate speech and inciting language which should be condemned by all peace-loving Liberians,” a report quoted Piah added.
Sirleaf’s problems with her party members may not be unconnected with her refusal to endorse her Vice, Boakai or throw her weight in his favour. Instead, she seemed to be indifferent, raising concerns among party members that she may not Boakai to take over from her
Boakai has served as Johnson Sirleaf’s vice president since her inauguration in 2006, but the president declined to endorse him and he distanced himself from the last administration
Reports say the mood in that West African country as they expect the election is that of anxiety and complaint. This had prompted the Chairman of Liberia National Electoral Commission (NEC) Jerome Korkoya to have an interaction with journalists where he told them that the commission had received 56 different election-related complaints so far, which were “being handled according to due process and in a transparent and open manner.”